The Nigeria Police Force has deployed a massive 15,000 operatives to secure the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale Etaifo announced on Wednesday in Osogbo. The deployment, ordered directly by the Inspector-General of Police due to rising political tension and recent pre-election violence, includes conventional policemen, Police Mobile Force units, counter-terrorism specialists, explosive ordnance disposal teams, dog squads, and medical emergency personnel.
Etaifo, who was redeployed early to the state to coordinate security, warned both officers and political actors against any form of compromise, vote-buying, or intimidation at polling units. In a firm declaration, he stated that all electoral offenders whether security personnel or civilians would be transferred to Abuja for immediate prosecution, bypassing local courts to ensure impartiality. The CP also revealed that marine police would patrol riverine areas, while aerial surveillance would monitor flashpoints. He vowed zero tolerance for thuggery, insisting that anyone caught disrupting the process would face the full wrath of the law. Security will cover all 3,763 polling units across the state, with reserve squads on standby for rapid response.